Critic Thomas Hodd from the Telegraph-Journal wrote that Laffoley injects "first person, post-modern narrative as he recounts his investigative process and offers reflections on the facts as they reveal themselves".

[6] Another critic from The Coast applauded him for his mastery in weaving together "the main story" and "contemporaneous scenes" in his books that make for "intriguing context".

When asked about the inspiration behind his book Shadowboxing, he said he was fascinated with the fact that George Dixon, who seemed so influential in the boxing and wider communities of Canada and the United States, had not yet had a biography written.

[8] According to a review by fellow writer Jenna Conter, Laffoley is the "Stephen King of Halifax"[9] because his unique writing style gives his works a cinematic quality, both vivid and imaginative.

He has been a lecturer at Saint Mary's University (Halifax) and a teacher in Wildflecken, Germany, Sachigo Lake First Nation, and King's-Edgehill School.